Shirakawa-go & Kanazawa: Day Trip with Wagashi & Gold Leaf

Summary

Fairytale rooftops, wagashi sweets and gold leaf in Kanazawa

You’ll wander Shirakawa-go’s storybook lanes, catch mountain air at Ogimachi Castle lookout, try your hand at wagashi making with a local craftsman, and taste gold leaf ice cream in Kanazawa’s geisha quarter—all guided and easygoing. It’s one of those days where every detail sticks with you long after you’ve left.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to start the day squinting at those steep thatched roofs in Shirakawa-go, trying to figure out how they keep all that snow off. Our guide, Yuki, grinned when I asked—she said the “gassho” style is like hands pressed in prayer. There was a faint smell of woodsmoke in the air, and someone nearby was frying something sweet (I never found out what). We wandered through the village just as the sun started burning off the morning chill. At one point, a local waved us toward a tiny bridge—I almost slipped on the mossy plank but caught myself. Lunch was on our own; I picked up hot soba from a place with only three tables and watched an old man feed sparrows outside.

The Ogimachi Castle lookout is a gentle climb if you walk it (or you can take the shuttle). The view over Shirakawa-go made me stop talking for once—just quiet roofs and rice fields stitched together. Back in Kanazawa, we drifted into Kenrokuen Garden. It was early spring so plum blossoms were just starting to open—tiny bursts of pink against all that green. People moved slowly here; even kids seemed hushed. I tried not to think about work back home for once.

Later, we met a wagashi craftsman who showed us how to shape sweet bean paste into flowers. My attempt looked more like a potato than a camellia—he laughed and said “practice makes perfect.” We ended up with sticky fingers and some new words in Japanese (Li laughed when I tried to say them). The gold leaf experience was next—delicate flakes everywhere, even on my sleeve. I didn’t know you could eat gold until they handed me soft serve ice cream dusted with it in Higashi Chaya District. It felt both fancy and kind of silly at the same time.

I still think about that view from Ogimachi Castle sometimes—how small everything looked from up there, but how close it all felt walking through those lanes. If you’re looking for a day trip from Kanazawa that feels like flipping through someone else’s photo album (but you get to taste things), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa city tour

• Meet at meeting point
• Explore Shirakawa-go village
• Have lunch in Shirakawa-go
• Visit Ogimachi Castle Site lookout
• Walk through Shirakawa-go area
• Visit Kenrokuen Garden
• Make Japanese sweets with craftsman
• Experience traditional gold leaf craft
• Stroll Kanazawa geisha district
• Try gold leaf ice cream
• Tour ends at finish point

Top questions

How do I get from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go on this tour?

The tour departs from Kanazawa Station by air-conditioned vehicle directly to Shirakawa-go.

Is lunch included during the day trip to Shirakawa-go?

No, lunch is not included—you’ll have free time to buy lunch yourself in Shirakawa-go village.

Do I need to hike to reach Ogimachi Castle lookout?

No—you can either walk up a gentle slope with your guide or take the shuttle bus to the observation deck.

What activities are included in Kanazawa?

You’ll visit Kenrokuen Garden, make Japanese sweets or crafts with a local expert, try gold leaf craftwork, and stroll Higashi Chaya District for gold leaf ice cream.

Is there an English-speaking guide on this tour?

Yes—a professional English-speaking guide leads the tour; audio guides are also available in several languages.

Are entrance fees covered for Kenrokuen Garden?

Yes—the admission fee for Kenrokuen Garden is included in your booking.

Is hotel pickup available?

No—the meeting point is at Kanazawa Station; extra pickup/drop-off isn’t provided.

Can children join this day trip?

Yes—infants and small children can join; strollers are allowed but infants must sit on an adult’s lap during transport.

What’s included

Your day includes transport by air-conditioned vehicle from Kanazawa Station, entry to Kenrokuen Garden, hands-on Japanese sweets making or traditional craft painting with a local expert (depending on schedule), a guided gold leaf experience, multilingual audio guidance if needed, plus Wi-Fi service on the bus before returning back to town together.